Coreopsis plant named ‘Glowing Embers’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis named ‘Glowing Embers’ that is characterized by its sturdy, well-branched plant habit reaching an average of 45 cm in height and 75 cm in width, its floriferous and long blooming season of sterile inflorescences that do not require deadheading; bloom commences in early July and lasts until frost in Kensington, Conn., its medium sized inflorescences with ray florets that are orange-red in color with yellow colored markings near the tips, its resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis) and leafspot (Pseudomonas cichorii) and its cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5a.

Botanical classification: Coreopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Glowing Embers’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Publications include but are not limited tolistings on ecgrowers, Santa Rosa Gardens, and Skagit Gardens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCoreopsis plant, botanically of hybrid origin and known as Coreopsis‘Glowing Embers’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivarname, ‘Glowing Embers’. The new cultivar of Coreopsis is an herbaceousperennial grown for landscape and container use.

The new Invention arose from an ongoing controlled breeding program inNew Braintree, Mass. The objective of the breeding program is to develophybrid cultivars of Coreopsis with unique and superior gardenattributes. In particular, to develop cultivars that are long-lived,sturdy, exhibit a true perennial habit and cold hardy to at leastU.S.D.A. Zone 5 in a wide range of flower colors and plant forms that donot require vernalization to intiate flowering.

The Inventor made a controlled cross in August of 2013 in New Braintree,Mass. between an unnamed and unpatented proprietary plant from hisbreeding program as the female parent and pollen that was pooled from avariety of unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants from his breedingprogram as the male parent. The exact characteristics of the pollenparent are therefore unknown. ‘Glowing Embers’ was selected in Septemberof 2014 as a single unique plant amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings under the direction of the Inventor in Kensington, Conn. inSeptember of 2014. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has shown thatthe characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Glowing Embers’ as a unique cultivar ofCoreopsis.

-   1. ‘Glowing Embers’ exhibits a sturdy, well-branched plant habit    reaching an average of 45 cm in height and 75 cm in width.-   2. ‘Glowing Embers’ exhibits a floriferous and long blooming season    of nearly sterile inflorescences that do not require deadheading;    bloom commences in early July and lasts until frost in Kensington,    Conn.-   3. ‘Glowing Embers’ exhibits medium sized inflorescences with ray    florets that are orange-red in color with yellow colored markings    near the tips.-   4. ‘Glowing Embers’ exhibits resistance to powdery mildew    (Podosphaera macularis) and leafspot (Pseudomonas cichorii).-   5. ‘Glowing Embers’ exhibits cold hardiness at least to U.S.D.A.    Zone 5a.

The female parent of ‘Glowing Embers’ differs from ‘Glowing Embers’ inhaving inflorescences with ray florets that are solid dark pink incolor, in not being reliably hardy in U.S.D.A. Zone 5 and in having ataller plant height and more upright plant habit. ‘Glowing Embers’ canbe most closely compared to Coreopsis cultivars ‘Sunset Strip’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 22,670) and ‘Desert Coral’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,847).‘Sunset Strip’ is similar to ‘Glowing Embers’ in having inflorescenceswith ray florets that are orange in color, thread-leaf type foliage anda similar cold hardiness. ‘Sunset Strip’ differs from ‘Glowing Embers’in having inflorescences with ray florets that in the summer months areprimarily golden yellow in color with dark orange centers, in being veryfertile and produces an abundance of seed, and in being more prone topowdery mildew when grown under similar conditions in New Braintree,Mass. ‘Desert Coral’ is similar to ‘Glowing Embers’ in havinginflorescences with ray florets that are orange in color and in havingthread-like foliage. ‘Desert Coral’ differs from ‘Glowing Embers’ inhaving inflorescences with ray florets that are pink-orange with a redcolor eye zone, in being prone to powdery mildew when grown undersimilar conditions in New Braintree, Mass. and in not being cold hardyin U.S.D.A. Zone 5.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Coreopsis. The photographs weretaken of a 3-month-old plant of ‘Glowing Embers’ as grown outdoors in aone-gallon container from a 30-cell plug in Kensington, Conn.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘Glowing Embers’ andshows the plant habit in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the inflorescencesof ‘Glowing Embers’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Coreopsis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 3-month-old plants of‘Glowing Embers’ as grown outdoors in a one-gallon container inKensington, Conn. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as ithas not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from early July until frost in            Kensington, Conn.        -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.        -   Plant habit.—Clump-forming, compact, upright leafy flowering            stems with inflorescences held above the foliage.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 34 cm in height and 37 cm            in width as grown in a one-gallon container and an average            of 45 cm in height and 75 cm in width as grwon in the            landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A Zone 5a.        -   Diseases and pests.—Resistance to powdery mildew            (Podosphaera macularis) and leafspot (Pseudomonas cichorii),            no susceptibility or resistance to pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous and fine, NN155A in color.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Time required for root initiation.—An average of 10 days for            root initiation.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Stem description:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded to tetragonal, solid.        -   Stem color.—146A.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem size.—Main stems; an average of 15 cm in length and 4            mm in width, lateral stems; an average of 15 cm in length            (excluding peduncles) and 2 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and dull.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branched, an average of 17 basal            main stems, lateral stems typically branched as oppositely            arranaged pairs at each node, with an average of 4 lateral            stems (2 pairs) per main stem.        -   Internode length.—An average of 2 cm.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf size.—Entire leaves; an average of 8 cm in length and 9            cm in width, ranges from 3 to 4 to 5 leaves; center lobe an            average of 5 cm in length and 4 mm in width, lateral lobes            an average of 4 cm in length and in 3 mm width.        -   Leaf shape.—Narrow obanceolate.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, inconspicuous, same color as leaf.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surfaces; smooth, dull, and            glaucous.        -   Leaf color.—Young and mature upper and lower surface; 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Composite with a single row of ray            florets surrounding disk florets in the center, forming a            radiant head, inflorescences are borne on branch terminals            in loose corymbs.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—8 to 10 days until senescence            of ray flowers, Phyllaries and disk flowers are persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Free flowering, an average of 5            corymbs per main branch, an average of 3 composites per            corymb.        -   Inflorescence size.—Corymbs; an average of 9 cm in length            and 4 cm in width, composite; an average of 1 cm in depth            and 5 cm in diameter with disk portion up to 8 mm in            diameter.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Globose in shape, an average of 7 mm in            depth and diameter, smooth and shiny surface; color; 163A,            suffused at the base with 146A, streaks of 183A held at the            margins.        -   Peduncle.—Rounded in shape, strong, an average of 8 cm in            length and 1 mm in diameter, 146A in color, smooth and            glabrous surface.-   Phyllaries (involucral bracts):    -   -   Phyllary number.—2 rows; outer (lower) row 8, inner (upper)            row 8.        -   Phyllary arrangement.—Outer (lower) phyllaries; 50% fused,            held upwards with the apex and mid-section recurved            downwards, inner (upper) phyllaries; overlap and surround            receptacle with apical portion slightly reflexed            (campanulate-like).        -   Phyllary size.—Outer (lower) phyllaries; an average of 3 mm            in length and 2 mm in width, inner (upper) phyllaries; an            average of 6 mm in length and 4 mm in width.        -   Phyllary color.—Upper and lower surfaces, outer (lower)            phyllaries; 144A, margins 142B, inner (upper) phyllaries;            transluscent, 163A, margins and tip flushed with 178A.        -   Phyllary texture.—Outer (lower) phyllaries; glabrous and            smooth on both surfaces, inner (upper) phyllaries; glabrous            and slightly waxy on both surfaces.        -   Phyllary apex.—Acute.        -   Phyllary base.—Truncate.        -   Phyllary shape.—Outer (lower) phyllaries; elliptic to            lanceolate, inner (upper) phyllaries; lanceolate.-   Ray florets (sterile):    -   -   Number.—8.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate, with the appearance of 3 longitudinal            sections.        -   Size.—An average of 2.5 cm in length and 1 cm in width.        -   Apex.—Rounded with three rounded lobes.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margins.—Entire on sides with lobed and notched apex.        -   Aspect.—Held mainly horizontal and slightly upwards,            perpendicular to peduncle.        -   Texture.—Both surfaces; glabrous, dull, and satiny.        -   Color.—Upper surface when opening; base to center; N34A,            center to tip 5A, lower surface when opening; 5A, upper            surface when half open; N34A with streaks and specks of 5A            on the upper one third toward the apex, upper surface when            half open; 11A, upper surface when fully open; N45A with            very base suffused with 187A and streaks and specks of            toward apex with specks decreasing to absent as it matures            further, lower surface when fully open; 11A, slightly            streaked with 187A.-   Disk florets (male and female):    -   -   Number.—An average of 70.        -   Shape.—Tubular, corolla is fused, flared at apex.        -   Size.—About 5 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width.        -   Color.—En masse; 21A, corolla; (tube) transluscent, 160B,            flared portion 166B.        -   Receptacle.—An average of 6 mm in diameter and 1 mm in            depth, 146A in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Presence.—Disk flowers only.        -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil; an average of 7 mm in length, style;            very fine and 160B in color, bifid pillose, stigma; 163B in            color with recurved branches about 0.5 mm in length, ovary            is inferior, oblong in shape, an average of 1 mm in length            and 0.5 mm in width, and 144C in color.        -   Androecium.—4 stamens, fused into tube surrounding style, an            average of 3 mm in length and less than 0.5 mm in width,            202A in color, pollen is minimal in quantity and 163B in            color.        -   Seed.—Seed development has been observed to be very minimal;            nearly sterile, plants available for data collection did not            set seed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named‘Glowing Embers’ as herein illustrated and described.